The Impact of the Private Sector Co-Payment Mechanism (PSCM) on the Private Market for ACTs in Nigeria: Results of the 2018 Cross-sectional Outlet and Household Market Surveys.
Abstract BackgroundThe private sector plays a large role in malaria treatment provision in Nigeria. To improve access to, and affordability of, quality-assured artemisinin combination therapies (QA-ACTs) within this sector, the Affordable Medicines Facility - Malaria began operations in 2010 and transitioned to a private sector co-payment mechanism (PSCM) until 2017. To assess the impact of the scheme on the ACT market, cross-sectional household and outlet surveys were conducted in 2018 to coincide with the final stockages of ACTs procured under the PSCM. MethodsAn outlet survey was conducted targeting private pharmacies and Proprietary and Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) across different regions of Nigeria to assess supply-side market factors related to availability and cost of antimalarials, including ACTs subsidised under the PSCM (called green leaf ACTs on account of their green leaf logo) and those not subsidised (non-green leaf ACTs). A concurrent household survey was conducted to determine demand-side factors related to treatment seeking practices, ACT brand preference and purchase decision. Data were compared with previous ACTWatch surveys to consider change over time.ResultsAvailability of ACTs increased significantly over the PSCM period and was almost universal by the time of the 2018 market survey. This increase was seen particularly among PPMVs. While the cost of green leaf ACTs remained relatively stable over time, the cost of non-green leaf ACTs reduced significantly so that by 2018 they had equivalent affordability. Unsubsidised brands were also available in different formulations and dosages, with double-strength ACTs reported as the most frequently purchased dosage type, and child ACTs popular in suspension and dispersible forms (forms not subsidised by the PSCM).ConclusionsThe PSCM had a clear impact on increasing not only the reach of subsidised QA brands, but also of non-subsidised brands. Increased market competition led to innovation from unsubsidised brands and large reductions in costs to make them competitive with subsidised brands. Concerns are drawn from the large market share that non-QA brands have managed to gain as well as the continued market share of oral artemisinin monotherapies. Continued monitoring of the market is recommended, along with improved local capacity for QA-certification and monitoring.